Court Throws Out Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.